And the best GUI of all the DAWS in your opinion is... ?

[.jon]

Guess GUI doesn't matter that much if "DAW" means just a MIDI recorder without any of the functions of a DAW

Sort of like when the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc... recorded.[Q/uote]

No, they had engineers recording their playing on tape. You can record VSTis on tape if you wish, no GUI at all

...and you've used it for 30 years.

Let's just say the guy is 34 (which I don't think he's even close), then at 4 years old he started playing.
Plus I don't think it takes 30 years to learn Logic Pro X (which I use) or any other sequencer.

Again, my point is GUI doesn't matter, he made the sequencer work for him and in less than 30 years.

If you make your sequencer work for you, then that's all that matters.

He started playing 3 years old, and has used that Voyetra since 1986 which is really quite precisely 30 years. In that time things sink in your muscle memory, what the tool actually is doesn't matter- he just happens to be using a computer and a DOS MIDI sequencer.

You can make anything work, and you don't need any DAW or even instruments at all to make music in it's generic meaning. But for many modern techniques and methods, a graphical user interface is not just nice, it's mandatory.

In any case, a well designed GUI has no drawbacks, only benefits.

[ValliSoftware]

He started playing 3 years old, and has used that Voyetra since 1986 which is really quite precisely 30 years. In that time things sink in your muscle memory, what the tool actually is doesn't matter- he just happens to be using a computer and a DOS MIDI sequencer.

No sure what you mean here.

You can make anything work, and you don't need any DAW or even instruments at all to make music in it's generic meaning.

I know, I also own a TASCAM DP-24SD 24-track Digital Portastudio and have my eye on the 32 track version.
I do use Logic Pro X instruments to record to the TASCAM as well.

But for many modern techniques and methods, a graphical user interface is not just nice, it's mandatory.

In any case, a well designed GUI has no drawbacks, only benefits.

Is there specific items in a GUI that you're talking about? I'm just curious to see if I have those in Logic Pro X.

[ValliSoftware]

He started playing 3 years old, and has used that Voyetra since 1986 which is really quite precisely 30 years. In that time things sink in your muscle memory, what the tool actually is doesn't matter- he just happens to be using a computer and a DOS MIDI sequencer.

No sure what you mean here.

You can make anything work, and you don't need any DAW or even instruments at all to make music in it's generic meaning.

I know, I also own a TASCAM DP-24SD 24-track Digital Portastudio and have my eye on the 32 track version.
I do use Logic Pro X instruments to record to the TASCAM as well.

But for many modern techniques and methods, a graphical user interface is not just nice, it's mandatory.

In any case, a well designed GUI has no drawbacks, only benefits.

Is there specific items in a GUI that you're talking about? I'm just curious to see if I have those in Logic Pro X.

The TASCAM is $420 at Sweetwater too.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DP24SD

[.jon]

Is there specific items in a GUI that you're talking about? I'm just curious to see if I have those in Logic Pro X.

Probably, GUIs enable basic things common to all DAWs. Such as arranging based on visual audio file peaks and manipulating them with stretch markers, modulating synth and FX parameters with automation envelope curves, selecting and moving MIDI notes with mouse in piano roll... most things we take for granted are there because technology evolved from ASCII interfaces.

[incubus]

frureascubnusampdponepingonlybabatraology.

[xbitz]

Is there specific items in a GUI that you're talking about? I'm just curious to see if I have those in Logic Pro X.

Probably, GUIs enable basic things common to all DAWs. Such as arranging based on visual audio file peaks and manipulating them with stretch markers, modulating synth and FX parameters with automation envelope curves, selecting and moving MIDI notes with mouse in piano roll... most things we take for granted are there because technology evolved from ASCII interfaces.

"ASCII interfaces" in Renoise each sampler/instrument has clip containers (phrases) and they(their content) can be triggered, their playing position, playing speed, playing direction etc. can be manipulated directly from the main interface (very similar way as was in the video)



after the whole thing can be resampled,sliced then the sliced fragments can be triggered again from the main interface(can be different modulation, fxes assigned to each sliced part) u can create note triggered automation etc. etc. etc. I've found the ASCII interface based workflow is much more fun/efficient (although I still learn Renoise as u can in the video, so the workflow with it definitely can be much faster ofc.) then the PR based, so "different people have different needs"

[ValliSoftware]

frureascubnusampdponepingonlybabatraology.

I just your "word" and this thread came up.

[Boone777]

Good looking? Logic and Studio One.

Functional? Ableton Live, if you don't use third party plug ins you can avoid opening/closing windows and becomes way less cluttered. of course live isn't the best for mixing and audio editing but for its main intended purpose the GUI is superb.

Worst? Reaper because it lack any core principle guiding it. Then Reason because it is so outdated for today more common resolutions.

In defense of Reaper (ya,ya fanboi I know ) White Tie did some awsome graphic work for Reaper check it out:

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=183627

[do_androids_dream]

Good looking? Logic and Studio One.

Functional? Ableton Live, if you don't use third party plug ins you can avoid opening/closing windows and becomes way less cluttered. of course live isn't the best for mixing and audio editing but for its main intended purpose the GUI is superb.

Worst? Reaper because it lack any core principle guiding it. Then Reason because it is so outdated for today more common resolutions.

In defense of Reaper (ya,ya fanboi I know ) White Tie did some awsome graphic work for Reaper check it out:

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=183627

He certainly pretties things up but I find most of his work just noise on the screen that gets in the way of working. I'm forever looking through the noise to find what I want.

Breaks my heart looking at this thread because I find Reaper to be by far the ugliest DAW in existence but I can't give it up because functionally it's streaks ahead of everything else and I'm so used to it now that every other DAW seems super slow to work with..

[Boone777]

Yeah I agree he's work is clustering the screen with eye candy I use Paulie myself. There is no way I'm going back to Logic or Cubase or Sonar after tweaking my Reaper theme to death ! I miss a couple of things from the other DAWS but speed has to come first ! I need the exact button where I need it for my workflow ! And macros ...heaven !!

[.jon]

In defense of Reaper (ya,ya fanboi I know ) White Tie did some awsome graphic work for Reaper check it out:

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=183627

Ouch, need eye bleach! I can't see anything awesome about that to be perfectly honest. It looks like the maker is colour blind and doesn't really have any idea or plan, it's just a mess of different styles and elements mashed together without thought- unusable. And technically the hand-drawn rendering looks so 90's, if you do 3D, at least do it properly like NI or D16.

[.jon]

Breaks my heart looking at this thread because I find Reaper to be by far the ugliest DAW in existence but I can't give it up because functionally it's streaks ahead of everything else and I'm so used to it now that every other DAW seems super slow to work with..

I feel sorry for all audio/mastering engineers, there really isn't anything better than Reaper for that kind of non-creative audio work. It's another thing for musicians/composers/producers, doesn't really stand up to the competition in any way. I wasted a lot of time trying to make it work.

[Guenon]

It's another thing for musicians/composers/producers, doesn't really stand up to the competition in any way. I wasted a lot of time trying to make it work.

I used a lot of time and made it work very well for me , and operating it is really effortless now, so use cases differ. I'd say it stands up to the competition nicely, with a lot of power and efficiency, and it's up to every individual to find the preferred working environment for their own needs. I'm on Live and Reaper these days, choosing which one to use on a case by case basis. (When feeling oldschool, Redux has kind of replaced standalone Renoise for me now. Best of both worlds, there.)

Relevant to the thread, my favorite DAW GUI of all time would have to be Live.

[.jon]

I used a lot of time and made it work very well for me , and operating it is really effortless now, so use cases differ. I'd say it stands up to the competition nicely, with a lot of power and efficiency, and it's up to every individual to find the preferred working environment for their own needs. .

Certainly use cases differ, maybe my use case is just too far from it's design origins. There was so many obstacles, bugs and nuisances that just couldn't be worked around with any amount of configuring or scripting- and I'm not really after a workaround-based workflow in a DAW. Not worth it.

The devil is in the details.

[Guenon]

I'm not really after a workaround-based workflow in a DAW. Not worth it.

Yeah, I agree. Use something that fits how you wish to work, and doesn't feel like you're fighting against your own tools